Wales

GCSE regrade row

The Welsh Government was warned that regrading GCSE exams in English would 'seriously damage' the integrity of the qualification. The comments were made by the WJEC exam board in emails released by the Welsh Government.

As always, our priority will be to ensure that the best interests of our learners are the focus of any decisions that we take. In Wales we are taking an evidence based approach through our Review of 14-19 Qualifications. This is a decision that cannot be rushed and Welsh Ministers are committed to avoiding significant changes to GCSEs until after the outcomes of the Review are known at the end of November.

The Welsh Government says any decision on the future of GCSEs here in Wales 'cannot be rushed' and must be based on the findings of a review into the exam system. An announcement is due later on UK Government plans to replace GCSEs in England with an O-level style exam.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

As always, our priority will be to ensure that the best interests of our learners are the focus of any decisions that we take.

In Wales we will be taking an evidence based approach through our Review of 14-19 Qualifications. This is a decision that cannot be rushed and Welsh Ministers are committed to not making significant changes to GCSEs until after the outcomes of the Review are known.

The Review Board are due to publish their findings at the end of November.

We await a formal announcement from the UK Government and will respond in due course.

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The Welsh Government's leading education official has written to the exam watchdog in England to call for controversial criticism of the GCSE re-grade to be withdrawn. Ofqual's chair Amanda Spielman told MPs that she believed the regrade was 'politically motivated.' You can see her remarks here.

In an unusual move, a letter has been published which was sent from the Welsh Government's Director of Schools and Young People, Chris Tweedale to Ofqual's Chief Executive. He defends the regrade and expresses surprise that no similar action is being taken in England before adding this:

I wish to take this opportunity to formally raise our concerns about the comments made by your Chair, which were widely reported, in which she implied that the decision taken in Wales was politically motivated. We believe these comments to be inappropriate, ill-judged and prejudicial, and we would ask that they be withdrawn.

– Chris Tweedale, Director of Schools and Young People group, Welsh Government

Michael Gove’s continued unilateral statements over recent months have, potentially irrevocably, damaged the three-country consensus on GCSEs and A levels that had existed for decades. His outbursts devaluing these qualifications have already led the Northern Ireland Examinations body to decide it would no longer offer its qualifications in England. Michael Gove is the person undermining parental confidence in GCSEs.